Pamela’s Place: Homeless Housing Ground Breaking

Pamela Atkinson has been an icon for decades, symbolizing to many Utah’s commitment to helping its homeless, refugees and other disadvantaged populations.

Now, the longtime advocate and faith leader — a woman Gov. Gary Herbert refers to as the Beehive State’s own “Mother Teresa” — is being honored with a new round of affordable housing in Utah’s capital for those who most need it.

Officials with the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City broke ground Wednesday on what will be called Pamela’s Place Apartments, a five-story, 100-bed facility at 525 S. 500 West that will be devoted to permanent supportive housing for the region’s chronically homeless.

The investment firm Goldman Sachs, the Olene Walker Housing Loan Trust Fund and the National Housing Trust Fund were key contributors to the project’s financing. It has also relied heavily on federal low-income tax credits, officials said. The building was designed by Architecture Belgique, headquartered in Midvale, and will be constructed by general contractor Wadman Construction, based in Ogden.